# US 12,118,812 B2 · User-created financial instruments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,118,812 B2 - Document ID: US12118812B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/942,836 - Filed: 2020-07-30 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Igor S. Ramos; Marc Dickenson; Andrew J Lavery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12118812B2 ## CPC - G06V 30/40: Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition - G06F 16/27: Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor - G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management - G06Q 30/0185: {Product, service or business identity fraud} - G06T 7/0002: {Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection} - G06V 10/44: Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components - G06V 10/74: Image or video pattern matching; Proximity measures in feature spaces - G06V 20/80: Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns - G06Q 40/02: Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03) - G06T 2207/30176: Document - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract An image of a financial instrument can be received and analyzed. One or more properties of the financial instrument can be determined based on the image. A uniqueness rating of the financial instrument can be determined based on the property or properties. Terms of the financial instrument are identified, and the financial instrument and identified terms are recorded in a digital storage base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving an image of a financial instrument; determining one or more properties of the financial instrument based on the image; determining a uniqueness rating of the financial instrument based on the properties; determining, based on the uniqueness rating, that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique, wherein determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique comprises: comparing the uniqueness rating to a threshold; responsive to the uniqueness rating being below the threshold, prompting a payor to cut the financial instrument into a different shape; receiving, after the prompting, an updated image of the financial instrument after the financial instrument has been cut; updating a uniqueness rating of the financial instrument based on the updated image; and comparing, after the updating the uniqueness rating, the uniqueness rating to the threshold; identifying terms of the financial instrument; and recording, in response to the determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique, the financial instrument and terms in a digital storage base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the prompting further includes suggesting that the payor scribble on the financial instrument. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the financial instrument to one or more other financial instruments stored in the digital storage base, wherein the uniqueness rating is determined based further upon results of the comparison. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the recording the financial instrument comprises storing the properties in the digital storage base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the terms of the financial instrument include a maximum number of times the financial instrument may be redeemed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the financial instrument is completely handwritten. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique comprises: concluding, after the updating the uniqueness rating, that the uniqueness rating is above the threshold. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: a memory; and a central processing unit (CPU) including one or more CPU cores configured to: receive an image of a financial instrument; determine one or more properties of the financial instrument based on the image; determine a uniqueness rating of the financial instrument based on the properties; determine, based on the uniqueness rating, that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique, wherein determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique comprises: comparing the uniqueness rating to a threshold; responsive to the uniqueness rating being below the threshold, prompting a payor to cut the financial instrument into a different shape; receiving, after the prompting, an updated image of the financial instrument after the financial instrument has been cut; updating a uniqueness rating of the financial instrument based on the updated image; and comparing, after the updating the uniqueness rating, the uniqueness rating to the threshold; identify terms of the financial instrument; and record, in response to the determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique, the financial instrument and terms in a digital storage base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the prompting further includes suggesting that the payor scribble on the financial instrument. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the CPU is further configured to compare the financial instrument to one or more other financial instruments stored in the digital storage base, wherein the uniqueness rating is determined based further upon results of the comparison. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the financial instrument contains text that is not handwritten. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique comprises: concluding, after the updating the uniqueness rating, that the uniqueness rating is above the threshold. ### Claim 13 A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to: receive an image of a financial instrument; determine one or more properties of the financial instrument based on the image; determine a uniqueness rating of the financial instrument based on the properties; determine, based on the uniqueness rating, that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique, wherein determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique comprises: comparing the uniqueness rating to a threshold; responsive to the uniqueness rating being below the threshold, prompting a payor to cut the financial instrument into a different shape; receiving, after the prompting, an updated image of the financial instrument after the financial instrument has been cut; updating a uniqueness rating of the financial instrument based on the updated image; and comparing, after the updating the uniqueness rating, the uniqueness rating to the threshold; identify terms of the financial instrument; and record, in response to the determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique, the financial instrument and terms in a digital storage base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the prompting further includes suggesting that the payor draw on the financial instrument. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to compare the financial instrument to one or more other financial instruments stored in the digital storage base, wherein the uniqueness rating is determined based further upon results of the comparison. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the financial instrument contains text that is not handwritten. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13, wherein determining that the financial instrument is sufficiently unique comprises: concluding, after the updating the uniqueness rating, that the uniqueness rating is above the threshold.